The MN was a quite common VC weapon. The movies love to show them all with AKs but the SKS and the MN (and many others) were commonly encountered. It was also a very common weapon for lower-ranking GIs to be permitted to keep as souvenirs. As far as value, WITHOUT the paperwork it is just another MN. The Hex indicates Russian origin and the Chinese script probably means it was gifted to the PLA and subsequently given to their comrades in Vietnam. The rifle has far more monetary value if left untouched (don't refinish it, excessively clean it or add anything TAPCO to it) and keep the original "War Trophy" paperwork with it. It would also be nice if the Veteran who brought it home could write a little narrative about the circumstances it came into his procession as well as a little background about his experiences in Vietnam. Get that notarized and keep it with everything else. A dealer might give you $50-$100 for the gun. A true collector of Vietnam bring-backs might go $250-$400 depending on the documentation and if the rifle is kept in its original condition.

I really dig that middle one with the inlays in the stock. I have some of that sort of art in my home since my wife is Persian, Ive thought about asking her dad to ship a BRNO stock back to Iran and have it inlayed for me.

"most important thing to do is..............................NOTHING. No restoration. No added parts. No refinishing. Nothing. "

If that front sight was missing when my relative picked it up, that's how it would stay were it mine. I would do nothing but preserve it. Plenty of others around if you want something to shoot or fiddle with.

Originally Posted By LurchAddams:
One of my favorite relatives brought home a Mosin Nagant from Vietnam. He says that he carried it on the plane home, and still has the paperwork.
They found a cache of NVA weapons. He asked what they were going to with them. The command said that that were about to be destroyed. So he asked if he could pull out a rifle, and they gave him some sort of paperwork, and let him take it home.

It has some sort of Chinese markings on it, has a hex receiver, and it's missing the front site.

Other than the obvious sentimental value, is this worth anything? Seems like the paperwork from Vietnam should make it worth a bit more.

Any advice for keeping this rifle? Do you think he should have this restored?

is the base missing or just the front sight?

in this case, i think value will be improve by restoring it only as far as replacing missing parts, and going no further.

I have a friend who was a former SF medic. In 1967 he brought back an sks that he took from a VC and several cases of captured ammo that he shot for years. Unfortunately when I met him he only had 400 rounds left; I traded him 1000 rounds for it